AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa issued statement following the passage of SB 1: 

“Texas Republicans have once again sold out our kids’ future to appease the billionaire class that keeps them in power. Choosing to defund our neighborhood schools will leave a generation of kids behind, further force good teachers out of the profession, and leave our classrooms to crumble – all in favor of funding unaccountable private schools that are empowered to refuse to serve our most vulnerable and underprivileged students. And when Texas Republicans choose to divert public funds for private interests – corruption is inevitable. 

“Public dollars belong in public schools. Period. Corporate private school vouchers only exist to give handouts to wealthy families so their kids can keep attending private and religious schools – while working families foot the bill. The Republican Party of Texas has taken a disturbing step toward overturning our Constitutionally-mandated education system that serves over 5 million Texas children. Now, the fight to fund our public schools heads to the Texas House where our Democrats will fight like hell for every student, faculty member and school district.”